PANJIM: PWD Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar on Tuesday said he has no knowledge of any wrongdoings in the JICA project and his name is simply being dragged into the controversy as he not the minister when the work order for the consultancy was awarded.
“My name is unnecessarily being dragged into the controversy by some media houses but let me say, I was not the minister when the tripartite agreement was signed for the project or the consultancy was awarded to Nihon Suido in 2009,” Dhavalikar said, addressing the media at PWD headquarters.
Dhavalikar stated that he has no connection with the project as right from signing of tripartite agreement (between State, JICA and Centre) Digambar Kamat was the Chief Minister and Churchill Alemao was the PWD minister.
Asked whether he found no suspicion in the JICA project despite being at the helm of PWD for the last three-and-a-half-years, Dhavalikar said, “How would I know of any wrongdoings in the project? My job was only to hold meetings with the engineers and clear the files. The process of awarding of tender and agreements were done before I took over.”
When pointed out to allegations that the projects were overestimated by Rs 1031 cr in 1999 and hence the project has not seen much cost escalation even though prices of materials have gone up, he said he has no knowledge of this.
“The estimates were done in 1999 taking into consideration the cost escalation and hence the project has not crossed the given target,” he said.
Dhavalikar, however, said that whatever the controversy, the JICA project is needed and should be completed.
“About seven to eight lakh people from the South (Mormugao and Margao) would benefit from JICA project for water and sewage. The project is required for the people and as such it should not be stopped at this stage as we have completed almost 75 to 78 per cent of the work,” he said.
Asked whether his department is contemplating banning Louis Berger for future contracts in wake of the controversy, he merely said, “It is for the Centre and the Chief Minister to reply I have nothing to say on that.”
